Grosvenor’s new report entitled “Heritage and Carbon” has just been released. Key arguments include:

• Historic buildings can play a leading role in the fight against climate change. But five core issues have to be addressed: policy, guidance, cost, supply chain skills and capacity in local government.
• A key starting point is policy because unless that is clear, there is little basis for consistent decision-making by anyone involved.
• This summer, the Government should use the impetus of planning reform and COP26 to change the NPPF, aligning heritage and sustainability much more closely and including policies for carbon reduction in relation to all designated heritage assets, excluding scheduled ancient monuments.
• This could cut operational carbon emissions by up to 7.7 MtC02 per year, equivalent to 5% of the UK’s carbon emissions associated with all buildings in 2019.
• It would also act as a powerful stimulus to the green economy and help protect a crucial part of our common heritage which gives so many people a sense of civic pride and identity in this country.